Filling in for Andrea Mitchell on her 1 p.m. et MSNBC show on Monday, Hardball host Chris Matthews wrapped up an interview with Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz by adorning her with praise: "Congresswoman, I want to congratulate you on one thing that nobody ever gives you credit for, which is uniting the Democratic Party as it's never been united." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]

Matthews, co-hosting with his wife Kathleen, continued to gush: "And I'm telling you, it's not – I grew up with a Democratic Party that was never united, and you are united. And that's something the Republicans are going to envy you for." A beaming Wasserman Schultz replied: "Thank you. We're very proud of that."

Here is a transcript of the August 19 exchange:

1:38PM ET

(...)

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Congresswoman, I want to congratulate you on one thing that nobody ever gives you credit for, which is uniting the Democratic Party as it's never been united. And I'm telling you, it's not-

DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Thank you.

MATTHEWS: I grew up with a Democratic Party that was never united, and you are united.

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Thank you. We're very proud of that.

MATTHEWS: And that's something the Republicans are going to envy you for. Thank you very much, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, she joins us.